I^IBRARY 

OF  THR 

University  of  California. 

Received     tjOcn/'',  ,  ^^9^.. 

Accession  No,7/jLA^  QjQ     .    Class  No. 


I 


^npHESE  regfulattons  are  only  issued  for 
official  purposes^  and  will  be  transferred 
by  signal  officers  and  others  receiving  the  same 
to  their  successors  when  relieved  from  their 
property  accountability ♦      J*      J*      J*      J*      ^ 


PROPERTY 


GENERAL  REGULATIONS 


SIGNAL  CORPS, 


U.  S.  ARMY. 

U.S.  s 


published  by 

Authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War 

for  the  use  of  the 

Army  of  the  Ukited  States. 


WASHINGTON: 

Government  Printing  Office. 
1898. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

Document  No.  82, 
Office  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer. 


Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  Honse  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled,  That,  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act, 
every  officer  of  the  Signal  Corps,  every  non-commissioned  officer  or  private 
of  the  Signal  Corps,  and  a'l  other  officers,  agents,  or  persons  who  now  have 
in  possession,  or  may  hereafter  receive  or  may  be  entrusted  with  any  stores 
or  supplies,  shall,  quarterl)'^  or  more  often,  if  so  directed,  and  in  such  man- 
ner and  on  such  forms  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Chief  Signal  Officer, 
make  true  and  correct  returns  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officers  of  all  Signal 
Service  property  and  all  other  supplies  and  stores  of  every  kind  received  by 
or  entrusted  to  them  and  each  of  them,  or  which  may,  in  any  manner,  come 
into  tiieir  and  each  of  their  possession  or  charge.  The  Chief  Signal  Officer, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed 
to  draw  up  and  enforce  in  his  Bureau  a  system  of  rides  and  regulations  for 
the  government  of  the  Signal  Bureau,  and  of  all  persons  in  said  Bureau, 
and /or  the  safe  keeping  and  preservation  of  all  Signal  Service  property  of  every 
kind,  and  to  direct  and  prescribe  the  kind,  number,  and  form,  of  all 
returns  and  reports,  and  to  enforce  compliance  therewith. 

Approved  Oct.  12, 1888. 


(3) 


PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS  OF 
THE  SIGNAL  CORPS. 


I.— PROPERTY    ACCOUNTABILITY. 

1.  Every  officer  of  the  Army  and  enlisted  man  of  the 
Signal  Corps,  and  all  other  persons  who  now  have  in 
possession  or  who  may  hereafter  receive,  or  may  be 
intrusted  with  any  stores  or  supplies  pertaining  to  the 
Signal  Corps,  are  responsible  therefor,  and  will  be  held 
strictly  accountable  for  all  such  property  for  which  they 
may  have  given  their  receipts. 

2.  Until  otherwise  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War, 
property  returns  are  to  be  made  on  the  31st  day  of 
December  and  on  the  30th  day  of  June,  of  each  year, 
and  all  returns  for  Signal  Corps  property  begin  and 
end  at  those  times ;  except,  where  in  the  case  of  officers, 
enlisted  men,  or  others  responsible  for  property,  by 
reason  of  transfer,  change  of  station,  or  leaving  the 
service,  it  becomes  necessary  to  close  their  accounta- 
bility at  an  earlier  date.  A  return,  with  ail  its  accom- 
panying papers,  must  be  forwarded  direct  to  the  office 
of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer,  Washington,  D.  C. ,  within 
twenty  (20)  dai/s  after  the  termination  of  the  accounting 
period. 

(5) 


6       PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

3.  When  any  person  accountable  for  Signal  Corps 
property  is  relieved  from  the  charge  of  the  same,  he 
will  turn  over  to  his  successor  all  property  and  stores, 
for  which  he  is  officially  accountable,  and  will  take 
duplicate  receipts  therefor  on  the  forms  furnished  for 
the  purpose,  one  copy  of  which  he  will  inclose  as  a 
voucher  to  his  final  return  of  property,  and  the  other 
will  be  retained. 

The  final  property  return  will  be  made  out  in  precisely 
the  same  manner  as  the  regular  semiannual  report. 

4.  The  retained  return,  showing  accountability  for 
property,  pertains  to  the  person  making  it,  and  will  not 
be  considered  a  part  of  the  records  at  the  station  where 
the  officer  or  man  is  serving. 

5.  Letters  of  transmittal  are  not  required  in  forward- 
ing property  or  other  returns,  unless  there  is  some  par- 
ticular fact  relative  to  the  papers  to. which  it  is  desired 
to  specially  invite  attention. 

6.  When  it  is  not  possible  to  render  a  return  within 
the  limit  of  time  prescribed,  owing  to  the  nonreceipt  of 
certain  vouchers,  the  return  itself  must  not  be  held, 
but  will  be  mailed  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officer,  with  a 
letter  stating  what  vouchers  are  missing,  with  reason 
therefor ;  said  missing  vouchers  to  be  forwarded  later, 
when  received. 

7.  The  person  signing  a  receipt  for  Signal  Corps 
property  received  by  him,  should  satisfy  himself  that 
the  condition  of  the  articles  is  correctly  stated  thereon, 
otherwise  he  may  become  accountable  for  unserv- 
iceable condition,  or  shortage,  of  component  parts  of 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  7 

articles  transferred  to  him.  Receipts  should  be  re- 
turned to  the  issuing  officer,  if  correct,  within  ten  days 
from  the  date  the  property  was  received. 

8.  Officers  and  others  accountable  must  verify  returns 
by  an  actual  count  of  all  the  articles  on  hand  at  the 
time  the  return  is  made. 

Whenever  any  discrepancy  exists  between  the  actual 
count  of  the  property  and  that  as  shown  by  the  returns, 
such  action  will  be  taken  as  is  enjoined  by  Army 
Regulations. 

9.  Enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps,  at  military 
posts,  becoming  responsible  for  public  property  under 
provisions  of  act  of  Congress  (Pub.  311)  approved  Octo- 
ber 12,  1888,  shall,  when  stores  or  supplies  shipped  to 
them  are  received  in  unserviceable  condition,  or  when 
deficient  in  number  and  quality,  examine  them  in  such 
manner  as  is  prescribed  in  paragraphs  668  and  669, 
Army  Regulations.  In  case  of  damage  or  deficiency 
appearing,  they  will  then  apply  in  writing  to  their 
immediate  commanding  officer  for  a  board  of  survey  to 
determine  the  responsibility  for  injury  or  loss  occur- 
ring. The  application  should  recite  that,  having 
received,  or  being  accountable  for  (as  the  case  may  be) , 
public  property  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Con- 
gress above  quoted,  application  is  made  under  para- 
graph 684,  Army  Regulations,  in  order  to  determine 
whether  such  public  property  has  been  lost  or  damaged 
by  the  neglect  or  fault  of  the  soldier  thus  applying. 

Enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps  serving  alone  at 
isolated    stations    will,   under  similar  circumstances, 


»       PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

make  immediate  report  in  detail  of  the  facts  to  their 
immediate  commanding  officers  and  ask  that  appropri- 
ate action  may  be  taken. 

10.  All  property  transferred  from  one  officer,  or  en- 
listed man  of  the  Signal  Corps,  to  another,  will  be  in- 
voiced; the  invoices  in  duplicate  to  be  filed  by  the 
person  to  whom  sent  with  the  copies  of  his  return,  the 
corresponding  receipts  in  duplicate  to  be  filed  with  the 
returns  of  the  person  issuing  the  property.  In  case  of 
shipments  through  the  Quartermaster's  Department, 
the  invoices  will  be  made  in  triplicate,  one  copy  to  be 
sent  by  mail  direct  to  the  officer  or  sergeant  to  whom 
the  property  has  been  transferred,  and  two  copies  to  be 
delivered  to  the  Quartermaster,  one  of  which  will  ac- 
company the  bill  of  lading  to  destination ;  receipts  in 
duplicate  for  the  package  will  be  taken  from  the 
Quartermaster. 

11.  All  articles  purchased  upon  proper  authority  by 
any  officer,  enlisted  man  of  Signal  Corps,  or  other  em- 
ployee on  stations  outside  of  Washington,  D.  C,  for 
official  use,  will  be  regularly  invoiced  to  the  person 
purchasing,  upon  receipt,  at  the  office  of  the  Chief  Sig- 
nal Officer  or  department  signal  officer  charged  with 
the  disbursement  of  Signal  Corps  funds,  of  the  proper 
certified  bill,  which  must  accompany  the  account  for 
settlement. 

12.  All  property  received  must  be  taken  up  on  the 
returns,  whether  invoiced  or  not,  except  forms  and  sta- 
tionery. Should  any  article  of  property  be  received, 
either  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  and  not  included  in 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES   ARMY.  9 

invoices,  special  attention  should  be  called  to  said  fact 
by  letter ;  the  articles  should  be  taken  up  and  a  foot- 
note made  showing  that  they  were  taken  up  without 
invoices.  It  may  happen  in  some  cases  that  invoices  of 
articles  sent  are  received  while  the  articles  themselves 
may  not  have  been  received ;  in  such  a  case  the  articles 
should  not  be  taken  up  until  they  are  actually  received, 
otherwise,  the  person  doing  so  will  make  himself  re- 
sponsible for  such  articles  while  they  may  never  reach 
him. 

13.  A  special  report  by  letter  should  be  made  of  all 
articles  not  received  within  a  reasonable  time  after  the 
person  to  whom  sent  is  notified  of  their  shipment. 

14.  Public  property  and  labor  hired  for  the  public 
use  must  not  be  perverted  to  any  use  whatsoever  not 
authorized  by  the  regulations  of  the  service. 

15.  Articles  of  Signal  Corps  property  pertaining  to 
military  telegraph  lines  must  not  be  transferred  from 
one  office  to  another  without  special  direction  from  the 
Chief  Signal  Officer  or  officer  in  immediate  charge  of 
the  line. 

16.  When  any  article  of  public  property  not  of  an 
expendable  nature,  for  which  any  officer  or  other  per- 
son is  responsible,  becomes  unfit  for  service  from  any 
cause  whatever  and  is  not  worth  expense  of  repair,  he 
will  report  the  facts  in  the  case  and  submit  the  articles 
for  action  to  the  inspector  first  visiting  the  station, 
excepting  telescopes,  field  glasses,  heliographs,  and  tele- 
phones (see  par.  1546,  Army  Regulations).  A  copy  of 
the  inventory  and  inspection  report  must  accompany 


10  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

the  return  rendered  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officer,   on 
which  the  property  is  accounted  for. 

17.  When  it  is  found  that  any  article  of  Signal  Corps 
property  is  unserviceable,  but  worth  the  expense  of  re- 
pair, a  detailed  report  will  be  made  of  the  nature  of  the 
unserviceability  of  the  article,  with  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  repair,  and  whether  or  not  said  repairs  can  be 
made  at  or  near  the  station  or  post. 

18.  When  an  inspector  recommends  that  certain  arti- 
cles of  Signal  Corps  property  be  turned  into  a  depot  for 
repairs,  the  accountable  officer  will  report  such  fact  to 
the  department  signal  officer  and  await  instructions  as 
to  the  disposition  of  the  same. 

19.  All  public  property  of  every  description  ordered 
to  be  returned  to  the  office  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer 
must  be  plainly  marked  on  the  package  with  the  name 
of  the  station  whence  it  comes,  the  weight  of  the  pack- 
age, if  known,  and  the  nature  of  the  contents.  The 
packages  must  be  addressed  to  the  ' '  Chief  Signal  Officer, 
care  depot  quartermaster,  Washington,  D.  C,"  when 
sent  by  quartermaster  transportation;  otherwise,  they 
will  be  marked  simply  ' '  Chief  Signal  Officer,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C." 

20.  When  a  station  is  discontinued,  the  disposition  of 
the  property,  other  than  that  for  which  a  signal  officer 
is  responsible,  will  be  ordered  from  the  office  of  the 
Chief  Signal  Officer  or  department  signal  officer,  and, 
in  any  event,  the  officer  or  other  person  in  charge  will 
be  held  responsible  that  each  article  is  properly  disposed 
of  as  ordered. 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES   ARMY.  11 

21.  Whenever  property  is  ordered  shipped  through 
the  Quartermaster's  Department,  it  should  be  properly 
packed,  without  expense,  if  possible. 

22.  In  no  case  will  any  unexpendable  article  of  public 
property  be  thrown  away  on  account  of  its  becoming  un- 
serviceable, but  it  will  be  held  until  orders  are  received 
from  the  proper  authority  concerning  its  disposition. 

23.  Officers  in  charge  of  military  telegraph  lines  will 
account  for  all  property  at  their  stations  and  for  all 
sections  of  line  (in  miles)  radiating  therefrom.  The 
officers  in  charge  will  designate  the  several  repair  sec- 
tions on  the  lines  under  their  charge,  and  the  enlisted 
men  or  civilian  operators  in  charge  of  such  repair  sec- 
tions will  account  for  all  property  at  their  stations  and 
the  line  (in  miles)  on  their  sections. 

24.  In  all  cases,  in  making  up  returns,  the  headings 
should  never  be  altered  or  changed,  but  when  articles 
other  than  those  enumerated  in  the  printed  headings 
are  at  the  station,  they  should  be  alphabetically  inserted 
in  the  blank  lines  for  that  purpose  on  the  return. 

Where  it  is  not  practicable  to  insert  the  names  alpha- 
betically, they  will  be  so  arranged  in  the  blank  space 
at  the  end  of  the  return. 

25.  All  articles  received  must  be  accounted  for  on 
returns  identically  as  invoiced,  and  the  nomenclature 
will  not  be  changed  without  specific  authority  of  the 
Chief  Signal  Officer. 

26.  Articles  of  like  name  but  of  different  pattern, 
when  invoiced  separately,  will  not  be  combined ;  thus, 
20-ohm,  4-ohm,  and  main-line   sounders  must  not  be 


12  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

carried  as  so  many  "sounders,"  but  the  total  of  each 
will  be  carried  under  its  appropriate  heading. 

27.  The  official  numbers  of  field  glasses,  telescopes, 
telephones,  and  transmitters,  and  other  instruments 
having  serial  numbers  must  in  all  cases  be  given  on  the 
return. 

28.  Where  there  is  a  local  telegraph  or  telephone  line 
at  a  post,  its  length  in  miles  or  feet  must  be  given  on 
the  return  under  the  heading  ''Line,''  otherwise  tele- 
graph material  or  supplies  will  not  be  furnished,  or  cer- 
tificate of  expenditure  dropping  such  supplies  as  used 
will  not  be  accepted,  on  the  assumption  that  there  is  no 
line  at  the  post. 

29.  Rented  telephones  and  transmitters  will  be  car- 
ried on  property  returns  in  red  ink  in  order  to  distin- 
guish them  from  those  which  are  owned  by  the  Gov- 
ernment. 

Call-bells,  magneto,  which  may  be  invoiced  at  the 
same  time  as  rented  instruments,  belong  to  the  Govern- 
ment, and  in  all  cases  must  be  taken  up  separately  on 
returns  in  black  ink,  as  other  Government  property. 

30.  Enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps  serving  at  mili 
tary  posts,  before  forwarding  their  property  returns 
will  have  certificate  of  expenditure  approved  by  post 
commander ;  those  not  on  duty  at  military  posts,  and 
accountable  for  property,  will  forward  the  certificate  to 
the  department  signal  officer  for  approval,  in  season,  so 
that  it  can  be  returned  in  time  to  be  included  with  his 
return  when  rendered. 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES   ARMY.  13 

31.  An  officer  or  other  person  whom  a  board  of  sur- 
vey or  other  competent  authority  has  adjudged  respon- 
sible for  the  loss,  destruction,  or  shortage  of  any  article 
or  parts  of  articles  of  Signal  Corps  property,  will  be 
required  to  cover  the  money  value  thereof  into  the 
United  States  Treasury  before  a  clearance  will  be  fur- 
nished. This  may  be  done  either  by  forwarding  the 
money  to  the  Disbursing  Officer  of  the  Signal  Corps, 
Washington,  D.  C. ,  who  will  deposit  the  money  on  ac- 
count of  the  responsible  officer,  or  the  money  may  be 
deposited  in  some  Government  depository  to  the  credit 
of  ''Miscellaneous  receipts,  refundment  for  _..  .(lost)-_- 
property,  Signal  Service  of  the  Army,  189__-"  (giving 
year  in  which  the  fiscal  year  ends. )  In  the  latter  case, 
an  account-current  must  be  rendered  to  this  office  for 
examination  and  transmission  to  the  accounting  officers 
of  the  Treasury  Department. 

32.  When  Signal  Corps  property  is  condemned  and 
ordered  sold,  due  notice  of  the  sale  will  be  given  (A.  R. 
505)  and  the  proceeds  will  be  accounted  for  in  the  man- 
ner prescribed  in  A.  R.  615.  The  accountable  officer 
will  then  render  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officer  an  account- 
current  covering  the  transaction,  inclosing  therewith  as 
vouchers  copies  of  the  advertisement  and  authority  for 
the  sale,  with  notation  of  the  disposition  made  of  the 
proceeds. 

33.  To  save  time  and  space,  a  few  articles  of  Signal 
Corps  property  are  invoiced  as  "complete."  Officers, 
enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps,  and  other  persons  re- 
ceiving such  articles  should  satisfy  themselves  that  all 


14  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

the  parts  which  go  to  make  up  the  whole  are  present 
before  signing  receipt  therefor.  When  any  parts  are 
missing,  a  memorandum  should  be  made  on  the  receipt 
specifically  designating  such  parts  as  are  missing  The 
accountable  officer  will  then  be  held  responsible  for  the 
shortage. 

34.  The  following  are  the  principal  articles  which 
are  invoiced  as  "complete:" 

Boxes,  call,  complete,  consist  of  the  magneto  call- 
bell  apparatus,  and  (except  the  old  style)  are  attached 
to  a  backboard  with  battery  box  containing  one  or  more 
cells  of  battery. 

Cells,  battery,  complete,  consist  of  the  glass  or  lead 
jar,  with  zinc,  copper,  or  carbon  elements. 

*'Jars"  battery,  which  are  merely  the  glass  or  lead 
jar  without  copper,  zinc,  or  carbon  elements,  should 
not  be  confounded  with  "cells"  battery. 

Heliographs,  field,  complete,  consist  of:  A  sole- 
leather  pouch,  containing  one  sun  mirror  and  one  sta- 
tion mirror,  inclosed  in  a  wooden  box ;  one  screen ;  one 
sighting  rod ;  one  screw-driver.  A  smaller  pouch,  slid- 
ing by  two  loops  upon  the  strap  of  the  larger,  contain- 
ing one  mirror  bar.  A  skeleton  case,  containing  two 
tripods. 

Pulleys  and  tackle,  complete,  consist  of  two  pulleys, 
each  with  a  vice  or  some  form  of  clamping  device  for 
grasping  the  wire,  and  about  60  feet  of  rOpe. 

Staffs,  jointed,  complete,  consist  of  three  joints  of 
staff,  i.  e. ,  tip,  middle,  and  butt  joints. 


UNIVERSrrY 
:;;2f  califorh^ 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  15 

Staffs,  practice  kit,  consist  of  two  joints  of  staff,  i.  c, 
tip  and  butt  joints. 

Vises  and  straps,  complete,  consist  of  a  small  hand 
vise  and  one  leather  strap. 

35.  Signal  Corps  property  is  arranged  into  two  gen- 
eral divisions,  viz:  that  of  an  ' ' unexpendable "  charac- 
ter, such  as  instruments,  tools,  etc. ,  and  that  of  an 
"expendable"  nature,  such  as  bluestone,  coppers,  zincs, 
etc.  The  term  "expendable,"  as  applied  to  property, 
signifies  that  the  property  so  designated  is  of  a  character 
to  be  actually  consumed. 

36.  The  following  list  comprises  articles  of  Signal 
Corps  property  which,  when  received,  must  be  accounted 
for  on  property  returns,  but  when  consumed  or  rendered 
unserviceable,  may  be  dropped  on  proper  certificate  of 
expenditure  (Form  No.  205),  without  the  formality  of 
submitting  them  for  the  action  of  an  inspector : 
Binders,  Conant.  Calendars. 

Bluestone  (sulphate  of  cop-  Cans,  assorted,  tin. 

per).  Cells,  battery. 

Boards,  letter-clip.  Chamois  skins. 

Books,  office  record.  Chemicals,  photographic. 

Books,  tariff.  Chimneys,  lamp. 

Bowls,  dampening.  Coal. 

Boxes,  battery.  Compound,  Chatterton. 

Brackets,  insulator.  Connectors,  battery. 

Brooms.  Coppers,  battery. 

Brushes,  assorted.  Cords,  telephone. 

Buttons,  push.  Cross-arms,  wood  or  iron. 

Cable,  conductor.  Cups,  tin. 


16 


PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 


Cups,  sponge. 

Disks,  cipher. 

Dusters,  feather. 

Erasers,  steel. 

Files,  machinists'. 

Files,  paper  or  office. 

Films,  photographic. 

Flags. 

Folders,  paper. 

Foot-rests. 

Glasses,  eye  and  case. 

Goblets  or  tumblers. 

Hangers,  battery. 

Hooks,  message. 

Inkstands. 

Insulators,  glass. 

Insulators,  porcelain. 

Jars,  battery. 

Lances. 

Lights,  Coston. 

Mercury. 

Mirrors  for  heliographs. 

Mucilage  cups. 

Nails. 

Needles. 

Oil. 

Pads,  ink. 

Paper. 

Paper,  photographic. 

Pens,  ruling. 


Pins. 

Plates,  ground. 

Plates,  photographic. 

Plugs,  insulator. 

Pokers. 

Poles,  telegraph. 

Polish,  stove. 

Posts,  binding. 

Racks,  pen. 

Ribbon,  typewriter. 

Rope. 

Rulers. 

Sal  ammoniac. 

Screws,  assorted. 

Separators,  rubber. 

Shades,  gas  or  lamp. 

Sheets,  copying. 

Signs,  office. 

Soap. 

Solder. 

Spikes. 

Stamps,  postage. 

Stationery. 

Stove-pipe,  joints  of. 

Straps,  for  climbers  and 

vises. 
Straps,  large,  small,  and 
-  hitching. 
Styli. 
Syringes,  battery. 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  17 

Tacks.  Turpentine. 

Tape,  kerite.  Vessels  or  dishes,  earthen. 

Tin.  wood  ware,  and  tin. 

Towels.  Wire. 

Tubing,  rubber.  Zincs,  battery. 

37.  Certificates  of  expenditure  will  only  be  accepted 
as  proper  vouchers  when  the  articles  given  in  the  list 
of  exi^endable  have  actually  been  consumed,  or  have 
become  entirely  unserviceable. 

38.  Battery-cells  and  jars;  connectors,  battery ;  jmsh- 
buttons,  etc. ,  when  taken  from  reserve  and  placed  in  a 
circuit  are  not  considered  as  expended,  as  they  are  then 
merely  performing  the  i)uri)ose  for  which  they  were 
furnished,  and  they  will  not  be  dropped  from  returns 
unless  broken,  or  absolutely  unserviceable. 

39.  Poles,  wire,  insulators,  and  other  telegraph  line 
material  when  used  in  the  construction  of  a  line  may 
be  dropped,  but  such  line  must  in  all  cases  appear  on 
the  return  in  miles  and  fractions,  or  in  feet  (see  par.  28) : 
when  the  line  is  shortened,  or  taken  down,  the  material 
recovered  must  be  again  taken  up  and  accounted  for. 

40.  Articles  (whether  expendable  or  unexpendable) 
lost  or  stolen  must  not  be  entered  on  certificate  of 
expenditure,  but  should  be  covered  by  a  special  certifi- 
cate (Form  206)  setting  forth  the  facts  in  the  case,  and 
when  the  aggregate  money  value  of  the  articles  lost  or 
stolen  exceeds  five  dollars,  must  be  submitted  for  the 
action  of  a  board  of  survey. 

41.  Station  record  books,  such  as  letters  sent,  copy- 
ing, check  ledgers,  etc. ,  as  soon  as  they  are  opened  and 


OF  THK  ■ 

■UNIVERSITY 


18  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

put  to  use,  can  be  dropped  from  property  returns  on 
certificate  of  expenditure  as  "used  in  service." 

42.  Iron  poles  not  actually  in  use  on  the  lines  will  be 
accounted  for  by  the  officer  in  charge  when  the  poles 
are  at  his  station;  otherwise  by  the  enlisted  men  or 
civilian  operators  in  charge  of  the  repair  sections. 

Whenever  one  of  these  poles  is  placed  upon  the  line 
it  will  be  dropped  on  the  next  certificate  of  expenditure. 
When  a  line  is  abandoned  and  an  officer  is  directed  to 
recover  the  poles  on  such  line,  he  will  take  up  and 
account  for  the  number  actually  recovered. 

43.  Where  errors  are  found  during  the  examination 
of  property  returns  at  the  office  of  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer,  the  accountable  officer  will  be  immediately 
notified  thereof,  and  where  practicable,  subsequent  cor- 
respondence will  be  by  indorsement  on  the  original 
communication.  In  connection  with  discrepancies,  cor- 
rected returns  will  not  be  rendered  unless  specially 
called  for,  as  a  corrected  return  necessitates  the  reex- 
amination and  checking  of  each  item  on  the  new  return. 

44.  Upon  receipt  of  a  letter  of  notification  of  errors, 
action  should  be  taken  thereon  at  once,  as  owing  to 
frequent  transfers  of  accountability,  especially  with  post 
signal  officers,  a  lapse  of  time  often  entails  considerable 
correspondence  and  difficulty  in  adjusting  discrepancies 
which  at  the  time  may  be  easily  corrected. 

45.  When  an  officer,  enlisted  man,  or  other  employee 
having  Signal  Corps  property  in  his  possession,  or  being 
accountable  therefor,  leaves  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  final  payment  will  not  be  made  to  such  officer, 


SIGNAL   CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  19 

enlisted  man,  or  other  employee  until  full  and  satis- 
factory evidence  is  furnished  that  the  property,  with 
which  he  may  have  been  intrusted,  has  been  duly 
accounted  for. 

46.  Officers  of  the  Army  detailed  for  duty  at  military 
colleges  who  are  accountable  for  Signal  Corps  property 
that  has  become  unserviceable,  are  authorized  to  sub- 
mit the  same  for  the  action  of  an  Inspector  as  provided 
for  in  pars.  879  and  1546,  A.  R. 

47.  In  order  to  reduce  to  a  minimum  the  clerical 
work  at  the  office  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer,  incident 
to  the  examination  of  property  returns,  the  post  signal 
officer  shall  be  accountable  for  all  Signal  Corps  property 
at  a  military  post  or  station.  Should  another  officer 
desire  to  retain  certain  articles  of  Signal  Corps  property 
for  official  use,  he  may  be  authorized  to  obtain  them 
from  the  signal  officer  on  memorandum  receipt.  These 
instructions,  however,  do  not  apply  to  department  sig- 
nal officers,  or  to  enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps  on 
duty  at  stations  where  there  is  a  military  telegraph 

office. 

II.— GENERAL  INSTRUCTIONS. 

48.  Enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps  are  expected  to 
perform  all  duties  in  connection  with  the  transmission 
of  military  information  for  the  use  of  the  Army.  At 
military  posts  it  is  discretionary  with  post  commanders 
to  require  them  to  assist  the  post  signal  officers  in  the 
matter  of  signal  instruction,  care  of  Signal  Corps  prop- 
erty, etc. ,  as  the  former  may  deem  the  public  interests 
or  special  conditions  require. 


20  PROPERTY  AND   GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

49.  In  answering  any  communication  from  the  Chief 
Signal  Officer,  reference  will  always  be  made  at  the 
beginning  of  the  letter  to  the  Signal  Office  serial  num- 
ber or  mark  (which  will  be  found  at  the  upper  left-hand 
corner  of  the  sheet),  as  well  as  the  date  of  said  letter. 
For  example :  ' '  Replying  to  your  letter  of  February  12, 
1897,  No.  5212." 

50.  Oil  required  for  signaling  purposes  is  not  fur- 
nished by  the  Signal  Corps,  but  is  obtained  on  requisi- 
tion from  the  post  quartermaster. 

51.  Practice  kits  are  not  issued  to  post  signal  officers, 
but  only  to  officers  detailed  for  duty  at  military  colleges. 
A  practice  kit  consists  of  one  canvass  case  holding  two 
joints  of  staff,  and  one  2-foot  red  and  one  2-foot  white 
flag,  each  item  being  carried  separately  on  returns. 

52.  Requisitions  for  Signal  Corps  stores  and  supplies 
must  be  forwarded  through  military  channels  to  the 
department  signal  officer  for  transmission  to  the  Chief 
Signal  Officer  of  the  Army. 

53.  The  following  price  list  of  Signal  Corps  property 
is  published  for  the  information  of  the  Army.  The 
price  of  any  article  not  on  this  list  will  be  furnished 
upon  application  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officer. 

PRICE  LIST  OF  SIGNAL  CORPS  PROPERTY. 


Price,     i  Price. 

Anemometers, with  cupscom-  !  Bars,  digging $L25 


plete »20. 00 

Axes .G8 

Barometers,  aneroid 12.00 


Bars,  ground 1.50 

Bells,  electric,  4-()lun .  75 

Bells,  electric,  20-ohm 2.0() 


Barometers,  mercurial 25, 00    |  Beltrf,  tool  _ 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  21 

PRICE  LIST   OF  SIGNAL  CORPS  PROPERTY — continued. 


Price. 

Boards,  letter-clip SO.  30 

Books,  Dictionary,  Webster's 

Coiinting-House 2. 10    . 

Bowls,     dampening,     with 

brushes 163 

Boxes,  call,  magneto.^ 9,50 

Boxes,  japanned .66 

Brackets,  insulator,  wood —  .033^ 

Brushes,  battery .  25 

Brushes,  dampening .  25 

Brushes,  dust .  40 

Brushes,  typewriter .  25 

Buckets  or  pails,  galvanized 

iron .65 

Butt-joints  for  lances ,  55 

Buttons,  push .08 

Buzzers,  electric 1, 25 

Cans,  copper,  5-gallon 8. 50 

Cans,  oil,  tin,  y^  gallon .  25 

Canteens  and  straps,  copper, 

1-gallon 2.15 

Carts,  hand  reel 150.  00 

Cases,    canvass,     for    signal 

blanks .68 

Cases,  canvass,  and  straps 5. 00 

Cells,  battery,   dry,  "Burn- 
ley"    .  75 

Cells,  battery,  "Gethins"___  1.86 

Cells,  battery,  "Le  Clanche"  .69 

Chamois  skins .  45 

Clamps,  splicing 1.35 

Climbers  and  straps,  pair 1.35 

Clocks,  marine 2.57 

Clocks,  regulator 13. 50 

.50 

,  prismatic 11.25 

Compasses,  with  clinometer,  2.  80 

Connectors,  battery ,06 

Coolers,  water 6.  80 

Coppers,  battery -043^ 

Cords,  telephone .  15 


Price. 

Cross-arms,  iron SO,  77 

Disks,  cipher .12 

Drivers,  insulator  plug 1,50 

Dusters,  feather .48 

Erasers,  steel .  32 

Extinguishers,  flying .30 

Extinguishers,  foot .30 

Flags,  4-foot  red .  46 

Flags,  4-foot  white .36 

Flags,  2-foot  red .  16 

Flags,  2-foot  white .  12 

Folders,  paper .45 

Funnels,  copper .15 

Furnaces,  tinners' 2.00 

Glasses,   eye,    colored,    with 

cases,  large 1. 25 

Glasses,    eye,    colored,  with 

cases,  small .25 

Glasses,  field,  aluminum 
frame,  with  cases,  slings, 
and  straps  (Imperial  Opti- 
cal Company) 22. 75 

Glasses,  field,  aluminum 
frame,  with  cases,  slings, 
and     straps    (Voigtlander 

&  Sohn) 39.  95 

Glasses,   field,    brass  frames, 

with  cases  and  straps 9.  95 

Handles,   with  tools 1.25 

Harness,  reel  cart 7.00 

Hatchets .40 

Haversacks 1, 12 

Heliographs,  field,  complete, 

model  1892 85.00 

Heliographs,  field,  complete  28.  75 
Heliographs,     "  Purssell     & 

Grugan" 25,00 

Heliographs,  station,  com- 
plete  45,50 

Holders,  telescope 2.06 

Hydrometers .35 


22  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

PRICE  LIST  OF  SIGNAL  CORPS  PROPERTY — Continued. 


Price. 
Insulators,    glass,    "Double 

Petticoat " $0. 03>^ 

Insulators,  glass,    "Regular 

Pattern" .02% 

Insulators,  glass,  "Pony" —  -(^1% 

Insulators,  porcelain -02)^ 

Insulators,hard-rubl)er,  "Pig- 
tail " .  22f, 

Insulators,  hard-rubber,  slot 

and  pin .  23% 

Iiisulators,bard-rubber,  other 

styles .  243^ 

Jars,  battery,   glass,  Callaud 

No.  1 .12 

Jars,  battery.  Eagle  (lead)—  .  08 

Keys,  telegraph 1.  25 

Kits,    practice   (case    and    2 

joints  of  staff) 1 .  00 

Lamps,  Rochester,  complete.  2.30 

Lances,  wood .  68 

Lanterns,  signal  candle 4. 85 

Mirrors,  heliograph .49 

Pans,  dust .  25 

Pliers,  8-inch,  pair 1.47 

Pliers,  4-inch,  pair .  43 

Pliers,  small '—  .  23 

Plugs,  insulator,  wood .05 

Poles,  telegraph,  iron 2.00 

Presses,  copying,  with  stands  8,  60 
Psych rometers,    sling,    com- 
plete   4.50 

Pulleys  and  tackle,  with  vises, 

complete 1.25 

Range-finders 15. 00 

Reels,  with  outpost  cable 44. 95 

Register,  anemometer  (veloc- 
ity and  stop-watch) 43.50 

Register,  anemometer 25. 00 

Relays,  telegraph 3. 35 

Relays,  1)0X  sounders 5. 00 

Relays,  telegraph,  pocket—  7. 60 


Price. 

Rods,  sighting,  helio $1,50 

Saw,  hand 1. 10 

Scissors .  20 

Screw-drivers,  10-inch .40 

Screw-drivers,  6-inch .  25 

Screw-drivers,  heliograph .  35 

Shades,  flame,  flying .  30 

Shades,  flame,  foot .  30 

Shears .60 

Shovels,  spoon,  telegraph 1.24 

Sounders,  telegraph 1. 25 

Sounders,  telegraph,  box 5. 00 

Sounders,  telegraph,  "Main 

Line" 10.00 

Staffs,  jointed  (3  joints)  per 

set 1.40 

Straps,  small— .  15 

Styli,  agate .  21 

Switches,  telegraph,  with 
cut-out,  lightning-arrester, 

and  ground,  large 1.50 

Switches,    telegraph,    small, 

with  ground ,45 

Syringes,  battery 1.40 

Tappers,  line 3,50 

Telephones,  service 5.00 

Telephones,  Berthon-Ader__  12.00 
Telescopes  and  straps,  brass 

frames 11. 85 

Thermometer,  maximum  and 
minimum,  mounted,  com- 
plete   6,67 

Torches,  flying 2,38 

Torches,  foot 2,25 

Trimmers,  tree 2.00 

Vises  and  straps 1 ,  23 

Wands .OI34 

Wicking,  per  pound .  12^^ 

Wind-vanes,  small,  complete  10.00 
Wire,  iron,  galvanized.  No. 

9,  per  pound -03% 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  23 

PRICE  LIST   OF  SIGNAL   CORPS   PROPERTY — continued. 


Price. 

Price. 

Wire,  iron,  galvanized,  No. 

Wrenches,  splicing 

.43 

14,  per  pound 

.04% 

Zincs,  battery,  CallauJ 

.12 

Wire,  office,  No.  18,  copper, 

Zincs,  battery,  Eagle 

.20 

insulated,  per  pound 

.  23      Zincs,  battery,  Le  Clanche__ 

.05 

Wormers 

.15 

54.  The  attention  of  individuals  and  firms  rendering 
services  or  material  to  the  Signal  Corps  of  the  Army  is 
invited  to  the  following  points  in  preparing  bills  and 
vouchers.  These  requirements  are  rendered  absolutely 
necessary  by  the  refusal  of  the  accounting  officers  of 
the  Treasury  Department  to  allow  credit  for  such  ex- 
penditures unless  these  regulations  are  strictly  followed : 

Bills  must  invariably  be  made  in  duplicate,  and  bear 
on  their  face  the  word  "  Correct,"  followed  by  the  auto- 
graphic signature  of  the  firm,  by  a  member  of  the  firm ; 
and  the  fact  that  the  person  signing  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  must  be  stated.  In  the  case  of  a  corporation,  the 
autographic  signature  of  the  treasurer,  or  other  officer 
authorized  to  receipt  for  money.  The  words  "Orig- 
inal "or  "  Duplicate  "  must  not  be  written  or  printed  on 
the  bills. 

Where  the  same  party  furnishes  supplies  and  also 
renders  services,  separate  bills  must  be  rendered. 

Bills  covering  purchases  in  open  market,  or  services 
rendered,  must  bear  upon  their  face  the  certificate  of 
an  officer  as  f ollow^s :  ' '  Procured  in  open  market,  at  the 
lowest  obtainable  rates,  the  amount  involved  being  so 
small  as  not  to  warrant  the  expense  of  advertising  and 


24  PROPERTY  AND   GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

the  opening  of  proposals,  and  the  price  charged  being 
reasonable  and  as  low  as  charged  by  regular  dealers  in 
this  locality  to  private  individuals." 

55.  The  following  supplies  of  forms  will  be  issued 
annually:  For  semiannual  reports,  6;  monthly,  30; 
weekly,  125.  Other  forms  will  be  issued  as  circum- 
stances may  require,  with  wastage  allowance  ranging 
from  20  per  cent  to  5  per  cent.  The  forms  specified 
are  for  the  use  of  post  signal  officers,  and  will  be  sent 
with  the  annual  supplies  in  December  for  use  during 
the  succeeding  calendar  year. 

LIST   OF   FORMS  AS  PER  PAR.    1552  A.    R. 

No.  200.  Semiannual  Return  of  Property  (regular) . 

No.  201.  Semiannual  Retura  of  Property  (abridged), 
for  use  of  officers  on  duty  at  military  col- 
leges and  those  having  only  a  few  articles. 

No.  202.  Invoice  or  Receipt  (combined). 

No.  203.  Invoice. 

No.  204.  Receipt. 

No.  205.  Certificate  of  Expenditure. 

No.  206.  Certificate  of  Property  Lost  or  Destroyed. 

No.  214.  Special  Requisition. 

No.  216.  Report  of  Instruction  and  Practice  in  Mili- 
tary Signaling. 

No.  217.  U.  S.  Army  Field-Signal  Blank. 

56.  A  regulation  supply  of  stationery,  etc. ,  for  post 
signal  officers  and  military  telegraph  offices,  is  fixed  and 
published  by  the  Chief  Signal  Officer  in  a  classified 
annual  supply  table.      Issues  for  current  signal  and 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  25 


telegraph  practice,  of  quantities  fixed  and  articles 
enumerated  in  the  supply  table,  may  be  dropped  as 
expended  in  the  public  service.  Special  issues  will  be 
made  only  on  the  recommendation  of  the  department 
signal  officer.  Articles  not  actually  used  in  such 
practice  will  be  turned  over  by  signal  officers  and  others 
to  their  authorized  successors.  These  articles  are  for- 
warded without  invoice  and  will  not  be  taken  up  on 
returns. 

57.  CLASSIFIED  ANNUAL  SUPPLY   TABLE. 


Bands,  rubber  (No.  18) gross__ 

Books,  blank,  small 

Envelopes,  large,  franked 

Envelopes,  message 

Envelopes,  linen-lined,  franked*__ 

Erasers,  rubber,  small 

Matches,  wind boxes__ 

Pads,  message 

Pads,  scratch 

Paper,  blotting cut 

Paper,  legal  cap quires.. 

Paper,  letter,  ruled quires 

Paper,  manila,  cop3'ing  __pounds__ 

Paper,  telegraph packages__ 

Paper,  typewriterf quires— 

I'aper,  w^rapping quires 

Penholders 

Pencils,  black-lead 

Pens 

Pins roll8__ 

Sponge,  small piece8__ 

Tape rolls__ 

Wands 

Wicking,  torch __pounds__ 


MILITARY 
POSTS. 


a  <fi 


MILITARY   TELEGRAPH 
OFFICKS. 


2 

2 

125 

3,000 

50 
2 
0 
0 
0 

50 
2 
4 
8 
4 

10 
2 
4 

30 
144 
2 
2 
2 
2 
0 


s 

a 

M 

'o 

^ 

-d 

fl 

Ti 

o 

^ 

1 

1 

1 

1 

75 

50 

2,000 

1,000 

36 

25 

2 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

25 

25 

1 

* 

3 

2 

4 

2 

3 

2 

5 

5 

2 

1 

4 

3 

24 

18 

108 

72 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

0 

0 

0 
0 

25 
100 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 

12 

1^ 

1 
1 
0 

1 

2 
12 
24 

1 

1 

0 

2 

0 


*  Furnished  only  to  stations  transmitting  line  receipts. 
i  Furnished  only  to  stations  having  typewriters. 


26  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

58.  The  forms,  stationery,  and  supplies  above  tabu- 
lated will  be  issued  in  December  for  the  next  calendar 
year  The  number  of  companies,  troops,  and  batteries 
at  each  post  will  be  determined  from  the  published  list 
issued  by  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army. 

59.  All  transmitters  and  receivers  furnished  by  the 
American  Bell  Telephone  Company  to  this  service  are 
their  property  and  are  held  by  the  Signal  Corps  under 
life  rental  upon  the  following  conditions: 

' '  For  use  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service  only, 
and  not  to  be  used  in  connection  with  lines,  instru- 
ments, or  service  of  other  parties." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  such  instruments 
must  not  be  used  in  connection  with  commercial  tele- 
phone exchanges,  or  in  any  manner  switched  onto  lines 
not  distinctly  Government  lines. 

60.  Telephones  provided  by  the  Signal  Corps  are  pri- 
marily for  use  on  rifle  and  artillery  ranges ;  but  when 
not  in  use  on  said  ranges  they  can  be  utilized  for  other 
post  purposes. 

61.  The  act  of  Congress  approved  June  8,  1896,  limits 
the  weight  of  all  mail  packages  to  4  pounds;  when 
articles  are  ordered  transferred  from  one  station  to 
another,  or  to  this  office,  by  mail,  care  must  be  exer- 
cised to  see  that  the  packages  do  not  exceed  this 
weight ;  where  this  weight  would  be  exceeded  in  one 
package,  and  it  is  possible  to  divide  the  articles,  two  or 
more  packages  must  be  made. 

BATTERIES. 

62.  Directions  for  setting  up  the  Callaud  or  Gravity 
battery. — Unfold  the  copper  strip,  so  as  to  form  a  cross, 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY.  27 

and  place  it  in  the  bottom  of  the  jar,  allowing  the  cov- 
ered wire  to  project  over  the  top.  Suspend  the  zinc 
about  4  inches  above  the  copper  from  the  tripod,  which 
has  a  hole  to  receive  the  wire  from  the  copper  of  the 
next  cup.  (The  "crow-foot"  zinc  is  provided  with  a 
shank  terminating  in  a  hook,  by  means  of  which  it  is 
suspended  on  the  edge  of  the  jar.  There  is  a  screw  on 
the  zinc  for  the  purpose  of  attaching  wire. )  Pour  clean 
water  into  the  jar,  so  as  to  cover  the  zinc.  Then  drop 
in  enough  blue  vitriol  (sulphate  of  copper)  in  small 
lumps  to  nearly  cover  the  top  of  the  copper. 

The  full  strength  of  the  battery  may  be  developed  at 
once  by  drawing  about  half  a  pint  per  cell  of  the  zinc 
solution  from  a  battery  already  in  use,  or  by  putting 
into  the  liquid  4  or  5  ounces  of  pulverized  sulphate  of 
zinc.  Blue  vitriol  should  be  dropped  into  the  jar  as  it 
is  consumed,  care  being  taken  that  it  goes  to  the  bot- 
tom. The  blue  color  will  be  kept  as  high  as  the  top 
of  the  copper,  but  must  never  reach  the  zinc.  When 
the  quantity  of  sulphate  of  zinc  in  solution  becomes 
too  great,  a  portion  of  the  top  of  the  liquid  will  be 
drawn  with  a  syringe  and  replaced  with  clear  water. 
A  hydrometer  is  convenient  to  test  the  strength  of  this 
solution.  When  the  specific  gravity  is  less  than  15 
degrees  there  is  too  little  sulphate  of  zinc ;  when  it  is 
30  degrees  there  is  too  much  in  solution  and  it  will  be 
diluted.  When  the  zincs  become  coated  so  as  to  inter- 
fere with  the  action  of  the  battery  they  will  be  taken 
out  and  scraped  clean  and  washed. 

The  binding  screws  and  the  ends  of  the  small  con- 
necting wires  in  either  battery  will  be  kept  scrupulously 


28  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

clean  to  insure  good  connections,  and  the  cells  kept  at 
least  1  inch  apart  to  prevent  coatact.  The  cells  should 
rest  on  a  painted  dry  wooden  base  to  insulate  them 
from  each  other  and  from  the  earth,  and  care  be  taken 
to  prevent  any  escape  of  liquid  by  which  a  connection 
might  be  formed  between  the  jars. 

63.  At  the  termini  of  lines  or  circuits  good  ground 
connections  are  necessary,  and  may  be  prepared  by 
burying,  in  a  perpendicular  position,  a  copper  plate  2 
or  3  feet  square  in  moist  earth,  or  utilizing  gas  or  water 
pipes  to  which  a  stout  copper  wire  is  securely  soldered. 
At  way  offices  a  sufficiently  good  ground  wire  may  be 
made  by  burying  the  end  of  a  stout  copper  wire  3  or  4 
feet  deep  into  moist  earth. 

64.  No  battery  should  be  permitted  to  freeze,  for 
while  frozen  the  current  is  very  much  impaired,  or 
altogether  suspended.  Heat  being  a  promoter  of  chem- 
ical action,  a  battery,  while  warm,  works  most  vigor- 
ously. 

65.  Batteries  should  be  examined  each  week  and  the 
cells  carefully  wiped  off  with  a  moist  cloth.  Should 
any  cell  be  found  to  leak  or  be  otherwise  defective,  it 
will  be  at  once  removed  and  repaired  or  replaced  with 
a  new  one,  as  a  defective  cell  seriously  interferes  with 
the  effectiveness  of  the  entire  battery. 

RULES  FOR  ESTIMATING  BATTERY  SUPPLIES,  ETC. 

QQ,  In  estimating  the  amount  of  battery  material 
likely  to  be  required,  the  following  general  rules  will 
be  observed : 


SIGNAL  CORPS,  UNITED  STATES   ARMY.  29 

The  average  life  of  a  battery  zinc  is  two  months,  or  at 
the  rate  of  six  zincs  per  annum  for  each  cell  of  battery. 

A  battery  copper  will  last  from  six  to  eight  months, 
until  such  time  as  the  insulation  on  the  wire  connection 
becomes  defective  or  the  copper  badly  incrusted;  a  fair 
average  is  two  coppers  per  annum  per  cell. 

A  main-line  battery  will  not  consume  more  than  1^ 
pounds  of  bluestone  per  month  per  cell ;  a  local  battery 
not  more  than  2  pounds  per  month  per  cell. 

About  4  ounces  of  sal  ammoniac  is  a  charge  for  a 
Le  Clanche  cell,  and  should  last  four  or  five  months. 

One  pound  of  office  wire  contains  about  100  feet. 
Nos.  9  and  14  galvanized-iron  wire  are  put  up  in  half- 
mile  coils 

CARE  AND  PRESERVATION  OF  BICYCLES. 

67.  The  attention  of  enlisted  men  of  the  Signal  Corps, 
and  other  persons  having  Signal  Corps  bicycles  in  their 
possession,  is  invited  to  the  following  instructions : 

Persons  accountable  for  bicycles  will  be  held  to  a  strict 
accountability  for  the  condition  in  which  they  are  kept, 
as  upon  the  care  which  any  machine  receives  largely 
depends  the  satisfaction  and  duration  of  its  service. 

After  use,  the  bicycle  should  be  carefully  wiped  to 
remove  all  dirt,  care  being  taken  that  it  does  not  work 
into  the  bearings ;  particular  attention  should  be  given 
to  the  chain,  and  no  attempt  should  be  made  to  use  the 
machine  when  the  chain  or  the  sprocket  wheels  are 
clogged  with  dirt  or  grit. 

In  no  case  should  mud  be  allowed  to  remain  on  a  tire, 
as  in  drying  it  contracts  and  cracks  the  rubber. 


HO  I'lrnlM'lin'Y    AND  (Jl      II      II   Ml   I       ii<»NH. 

Utwlor  no  olrcnmHtancow  Mhonld  a  bicycle  beloftox- 
\nmH\  ii)  tlio  w(Mitli(ir  wlmTi  tiof;  In  use,  nor  Hhould  a  nia- 
clHiKi  1)(<  put  away  In  a  wot,  condlUon. 

Tho  litMtrti  of  all  partn,  wlicllMr  nlckolod,  onamoled, 
ori)la1n  hUhA,  1m  moHt  cmMily  kopt  up  by  rMfofiilly  mh 
blng  witli  a  dry  cloth  or  cbamolM  Mkln. 

(Ml  Hhonld  not  bo  allowod  to  remain  on  ili«   ■    i   nor 
]mr\  of  ihi*  inMcliincs  an  it  in  an  enemy  to  (»iMi(!r  jik  i  .  i 
ntuutujl,  or  rnhlM^r,  and  when  found  running  Crom  ;iii 
overflowed  biuiriuK  Mhould  be  removed  at  on(;e. 

At  bwiMt  twi(*(<  a  y(Mi,r  thoronghly  clean  tlin  ])nn,ringM, 
removing  thn  Hliiii't  and  coticH  and  tJm  bnnringH  of  ))()tli 
wheelH,  and  WM-whing  all  ])artM  in  ItoroMiuuMHl.  A  tern- 
])orary  clnntdng  of  tlin  benringM  may  \h)  ttuule  l)y  pliic- 
ing  th(^  maehine  o?i  its  wide  and  i?iJ(U'ting  keroMcnui  (jH, 
benzine,  or  ganolinc^  into  the  bearingn  and  allow  11  to 
rnn  oni,  iHUjnnih,  at  llie  mjuim-  i  ihh'  revolving  ihis  wlnud 
or  (rranl<  Mluif't. 

For  oiling  ims  a  good  (jnalily  of  lubricating  oil.  I )«. 
not  UMe  k(^roH(<ne  for  a  lubricant,  an  it  rapidly  cvnpo 
ratCM,  huiving  the  partn  dry.  Oil  nlionld  l)c  UMcd  vj^ry 
Mparingly,  a  few  dropn  being  miftlcient. 

A  broken  bnH  in  a  iMuwing  Mhonld  bo  n^novod  iitonce. 
It  iM  tiMnaliy  directed  by  a  lint'Mh  grating  Monnd.  l^'ailnre 
to  d<»  tIdM  will  rcMiilt.  in  damaged  caHeN,  coneM,  andballM. 

VaMclinc  nnd  grapliite  have  been  iiMcd  to  good  advan 
tagc  aM  a  bibricnnt  for  tln^  clniin,  bnt  a  rcgnlnr  chnln 
lubricuint  will  !"•  rmiiiHlird  on  iiMjuiHitioji. 

U(V)>airkitM  an*  fnrniMlKMl  with  cacli  Incyclc.  mid  muHt 
lit  all  t imcM  be  kept.  complet(\  timely  requiMitJon  luring 
made  for  Much  iteniM  aM  have  been  nMed. 


3  R  A  /Y  p*S. 


filONAl.  OOIU'H,  IJNITKO  SI' A  i  is    ai;\i\  lU 

hi('\(|(       w  Ik  II  iin,s(»rvi(*('n,l>I<',  will    no!    ln>  .siilmiiUcd 

Imi    I  Ik    .h   1 1    .III    IIIHIXH'l.Or  W  ll  IkhiI    <    ■  [  .1  <         .ml  Ik-IiI  \ 

ri<.iii  tJK    ('lii('l'Sigii;il  <  Mil.  .1 

<)H.  'I'Ik-  rollowiiiL-    ;k  I   <.i    <'>'ii    K       IN  piihlitslKMl  for 
tjir  iiir(.iiii;iii..ii  .(ikI  ■■,.\ .  I  iiiiK  III  ..I  ;iil  concermHl: 

AN  A<"r  I"  |iM.i..i  lliiMU  itf  toli'gmpli  foiistruo.lstHi  or  iiHct.l  by  lh<>  llnlttul 
.^tiii<  a  from  mftlleiouw  i»ij»»'y  i^'*'!  obstruction. 
Ih'  U  Kthuifii  hii  ihf*  8mtiU0  and  llmm  of  H«pri'»>'nlntlv(U  of  th»  UHUmU  SUUc* 
of  Amerhui  in  r'oM(/rr*ttN  imt>mhltul,  TltiU  any  pttrion  or  poiiioiiM  wliOHhall  will* 
fully  or  mull«|(Mmly  lujur«»  or  il«*trt»y  any  of  lli«  worku  «>r  proju^rty  dv  iuiit«»- 
iiii  >(    iin    i.'l.'graphh'  Muo  t>ou«truet«»<l    "mI  .m.im  l,..i    m  procuHw  c>f  con- 

iMMh   I.    iv  ih(>  lluittMl  HtdtoH,  or  thtU   m  m  i.   ..ii<  ■   .  onRtruotod  ami 

,\\i,  .1  .1  .  . .  u|»t«Hl  and  cM)ntroll«»(l  by  lli-  '  ii  i  inion,  or  wlu)  wliall  wlll- 
luil)  :K(<i  iiialit  louHJy  Jiitttrforo  in  any  \mi.\  vv  nh  ih.  worltlng  or  \m\  of  any 
Nudi  tt*I«i(mphiti  liUM,  or  who  Niiall  willfully  or  maliciously  obMtruct^  liindor, 
or  (lolay  thi*  (ramimiNNlon  of  any  communication  ovur  any  Nuch  tclc)(raphic 
lino,  Hliall  bit  (lti(im»d  Kuilty  of  a  mlNdunumuor,  and,  on  oonvlotion  Ihuroof 
in  any  ctlHlrict  court  of  tho  United  HtatcH  having:  JurlNdiotion  of  the  Minn*, 
Hball  be  punihiicd  by  a  Hno  of  not  Ichn  than  one  hundred  nor  moru  than 
one  thouwiiid  dollarH,  ov  with  ImpriNonnient  f<u  a  i  i  n.  n  .i  «xceedlng  three 
yearrt,  or  with  both,  In  tin*  dIucreMon  of  the  coui  i 


y\ll   |)('i',s(>n,s  iii«'  vvju'ikmI   lluil   jiiin   iii|iii\   Io,  or  uruin 
tlioi'i/.<'<l  int(»rfon»iic«»  vvilli,  IIk'  I  iii1'<i  ;  i;i1(»h  military 
t(»loKntpli  \inm  will  \m  pr()H«'<  iii<  <l   iiii(l«r  the  Act  of 
( \.M'i.  ■  -  ;i|.|.i..v  ..l  Jinio  'iM,  IH'M,  .-111(1  ;i  ivwniwl  of  one 

IiiiikIi<<I    <I..II;ii       i      «»n'«M'<Ml    for   inlniiiial  loii    Ic.-iding   tO 

lh(»  mn'Ml  ami  coiivicl ion  of  luiy  p'ti'ly  <>i'  parties  under 
Ml  in  Act. 
00.  CommnnicationH,  forms,  and  olhcfonicial  paixM-n 

Imi  \n;ii<I<  <1  to  llu*  olli.  .    .'I    Hk    <  'IikI    Si;',iial  <  )irK-<  i    imr  I 
ii.iv  III.    I.ri.  r  r..l(l   |.i..|M  1  \^    lill.  ,1   ii|> 


33  PROPERTY  AND  GENERAL  REGULATIONS. 

70.  All  official  communications  to  this  office  should 
be  addressed  "  Chief  Signal  Officer  of  the  Army,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. "  In  no  case  should  official  communica- 
tions be  addressed  to  the  Chief  Signal  Officer  by  name, 
or  to  subordinates  in  his  office. 

71.  Officers  in  charge  of  companies  or  detachments 
of  Signal  Corps  troops  charged  with  the  duty  of  render- 
ing muster  rolls  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army, 
will  cause  a  copy  thereof  to  be  sent  to  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer  for  the  information  of  his  office. 

72.  Papers  covering  the  enlistment  or  reenlistment 
of  Signal  Corps  men  must  be  made  in  duplicate,  and 
both  copies  forwarded  at  once  to  the  Chief  Signal  Offi- 
cer of  the  Army,  who  is  required  by  the  Regulations  to 
render  a  recruiting  return  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

73.  Instruments,  and  all  articles  of  value,  sent 
through  the  mails  must  be  registered ;  postage  stamps 
for  this  purpose  will  be  furnished  by  the  Quarter- 
master's Department. 

74.  A  monthly  personal  report  will  be  rendered  to 
the  Chief  Signal  Officer  by  all  detached  enlisted  men 
of  the  Signal  Corps,  which  report  will  be  forwarded 
through  post  signal  officers  to  the  post  commander, 
who  will  forward  the  same  through  department  head- 
quarters. When  enlisted  men  are  serving  in  detach- 
ments, a  consolidated  report  will  be  made  by  the  signal 
officer  in  charge,  which  will  contain  a  list  of  all  Signal 
Corps  men  serving  under  his  command  during  the 
month,  with  such  remarks  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 
to  complete  the  individual  card  records  of  the  men  at 
this  office. 


SIGNAL   CORPS,  UNITED  STATES   ARMY.  33 

75.  In  addition  to  the  special  directions  herein  pro- 
mulgated, the  Army  Regulations,  orders  of  the  War 
Department,  and  decisions  of  the  accounting  officers  of 
the  Treasury  Department  relating  to  the  accountability 
for  public  property,  must  be  strictly  followed. 

A.  W.  GREELY, 

Brigadier  General, 
Chief  Signal  Officer,  U.  S.  A. 


UNIVERSITY  ) 


INDEX. 


Pars. 
Accounts-current 31,32 

Annual  supply  table . 57 

Auction  sales,  proceeds  how  accounted  for 32 

Batteries 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 

Battery  cells  or  jars 38 

Battery  coppers 66 

Bicycles,  care  of 67 

Bills  and  vouchers,  how  prepared 54 

Boards  of  survey 9, 31, 40 

Boxes,  call,  magneto 29, 34 

Call  bells 29,34 

Callaud  batteries,  direction  for  use 62 

Certificates  of  expenditures 28, 30, 37 

Communications 49,  70 

Condemned  property,  how  disposed  of 32 

Connectors,  battery 38 

Coppers,  battery 66 

Enlisted  men  of  Signal  Corps,  duties  of 48 

Enlistment  papers 72 

Errors  in  property  papers 43,44 

Expendable  property 16, 35, 36 

Field  glasses 16,27 

Final  payment  of  employees 45 

Final  property  returns 3 

Forms 55,  58,  69 

Gravity  batteries,  directions  for  use 62 

(35) 


36  INDEX. 

Pars. 

Heliographs 16  34 

Insulators 39 

Inspection  of  property ^ 39 

Inventory  and  inspection  returns 16,18 

Inventory  of  property 8 

Jar^,  battery 34 

Le  Clanche  cells 66 

Letters,  to  be  briefed 69 

Letters  of  transmittal 5 

Line  material,  when  expendable 39 

Line,  telegraph 28,39 

List  of  expendable  property 36 

List  of  forms  issued 55 

Loss  of  property,  action  to  be  taken 31,40 

Mail  packages ^ 61 

Mail  packages,  to  be  registered 47 

Memorandum  receipts . 47 

Military  colleges 46,61 

Military  telegraph  lines,  property  accountability 23 

Military  telegraph  lines,  interference  with 65 

Money  value  of  articles,  how  accounted  for 31 

Muster  rolls 71 

Nomenclature,  not  to  be  changed 24,25 

Oil,  for  signaling 50 

Personal  reports  of  enlisted  men 74 

Poles,  telegraph 39, 42 

Practice  kits 61 

Price  list  of  property 63 


INDEX. 

Pars. 

Property,  condemned 34 

Expendable 16,35 

Final  returns 3 

Invoiced,  but  not  received,  action  to  be  taken 12,13 

Purchased  at  station 11 

Receipts 7 

Received  without  invoice 12 

Retained  returns 4 

Returns,  when  made 2,6 

Shortage,  lost  or  unserviceable 9, 31, 39, 40 

Transfers , 10 

Unexpendable . 22 

Unserviceable 17 

Receipts  for  property 7, 33 

Receivers,  telephone 59 

Rented,telephone8  and  transmitters 29 

Requisitions 52 

Retained  property  returns 4 

Returns,  property,  when  made 2 

Returns,  headings  of  form  not  to  be  changed 24 

Returns,  but  one  peison  to  be  accountable  at  a  station 47 

Rules  for  estimating  battery  supplies 66 

Sal  ammoniac 66 

Sales  at  auction 32 

Signal  Corps,  duties  of  enlisted  men 48 

Staffs,  signal 34 

Stations,  discontinued,  disposition  of  property 20 

Stationery 12,56,58 

Stolen  property 39 

Station  records 41 

Supply  table . 56 

Telegraph  lines 28 

Telephones , 16, 27, 29, 60 


38  INDEX. 

Pars. 

Telescopes 16,27 

Transmittal,  letters  of 5 

Transmitters 27, 29, 59 

Unexpendable  property 22,  :}5 

Unserviceable  property 17 

Vises  and  straps 34 

Vouchers,  how  prepared 54 

Vouchers,  missing,  action  to  be  taken 6 

Wire 39,66 

Zincs,  battery 66 


^ 


